Staff at a Lincolnshire hospice are asking people to watch their virtual procession tonight and light a candle in memory of someone special.

Image source, St Barnabas Hospice

St Barnabas Hospice's Light Up a Life event will go ahead despite coronavirus restrictions thanks to a pre-recorded procession which people can watch on Facebook tonight at 19:00.

The virtual service will feature readings, music and time for quiet reflection.

Those taking part are also being encouraged to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one.

Lincolnshire traders have warned customers must strictly stick to social distancing rules when they re-open next month as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

Image source, Google

Gyms and non-essential shops in all parts of England will be allowed to reopen when the latest lockdown ends on 2 December, following yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister.

However, traders in Lincolnshire say they expect to be incredibly busy as people rush to catch up on their Christmas shopping.

To help ensure safety, it's been confirmed there will be no Christmas celebrations at Marshall's Yard Shopping Centre in Gainsborough (pictured) to make sure it doesn't draw in large crowds.

Centre manager Alison Shipperbottom says: "It'd be totally irresponsible to do anything now. We just want the stores to be supported and people to come and enjoy their shopping in a safe way."

Regions across the country won't find out which "tier" they'll be subject to until Thursday.

Tier allocations will be reviewed every 14 days and the regional approach will last until March, the government says.

A coronavirus testing station is being built in Grantham as part of efforts to reduce infection rates in Lincolnshire.

Image source, South Kesteven District Council

The testing site will only be available to people who have coronavirus symptoms and appointments must be booked in advance at the government's website, external or by calling 119.

Symptoms include a fever, a new continuous cough or a loss or change in sense of taste and smell.

The site is due to open on Monday 30 November and will be open seven days a week between 08:00 to 18:00.

Councillor Annie Mason, from South Kesteven District Council, said: "Anyone using the Queen Elizabeth Park testing station should walk, cycle or drive there. Do not use a taxi or public transport.

"If that is not possible, please order a home test through the post.Testing is one of the keys to getting a grip on the pandemic and we've worked hard to make it as easy as possible for people to do that."

The Queen Elizabeth Park car park will be closed while the testing station is in place, the council says.

Extra days of imprisonment are being handed out to prisoners "like confetti" in Lincoln Prison, it's being claimed.

Image source, Google

The Howard League for Penal Reform says over the past two years, nearly 1,700 extra days have been handed out.

Andrew Neilson, from the charity says, it's adding pressure on the system.

"We've already got an overcrowded prison system, and the longer that you keep people in that system the more clogged up it gets, the more overcrowded it gets," he says.

"Those problems of violence, widespread drugs, just get worse because adding additional days to people's sentences is going to do nothing to reduce pressure on the prisons."

Responding, a Prisons Service spokesperson says: "Ensuring robust punishments are available is essential to running a safe facility.

"It is absolutely right that when prisoners choose to engage in serious rule-breaking they face longer behind bars."

A review is to be carried out in East Lindsey to see if CCTV cameras are needed in taxis, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Google

Options being considered as part of the review range from not allowing CCTV in taxis and private hire vehicles to making it compulsory.

A report before councillors today says potential privacy issues must be considered as well as the cost to firms.

It also says there is no evidence of a high number of crimes being committed in the vehicles. But it does suggest dashcams and external CCTV can be useful to police.

A consultation will be held with drivers and firms to see if cameras would have either a positive or an adverse effect on the safety of people using the vehicles, the council says.

A decision will be made after that.

Two men are jailed for drugs offences following the death of a 14-year-old Alex Buchan at a house in Holbeach, Lincolnshire

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Outsourcing firm Serco, which looks after Lincolnshire County Council’s IT and finance system, is set to cut up to 10 staff from its local team.

Image source, Google

It is understood that elements of the company’s 38-strong Lincolnshire Government Partnership team, which oversees IT infrastructure and support to users, are being outsourced to Microland, based in India.

A company spokesperson said: “Serco delivers a range of services for Lincolnshire County Council including customer services, finance, HR, payroll and IT, employing 350 people.

“We have started a consultation in process with the IT infrastructure function which is likely to have an impact on less than 10 roles, when concluded.”

The county council’s partnership with Serco is worth £70m. However, the contract, which was set to end in 2020, was beset by poor performance and difficulties in configuring software.

The authority fined Serco more than £2m for poor performance.

Despite this, in October 2018 the council voted to extend the contract for the provision of IT, payroll, HR, customer services, exchequer services and adult care finance until the end of March 2022.

Lincoln's much-loved Christmas market is going "virtual" this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Up to 130 virtual stalls full of festive treats can be found online at the market, external, which opened on Friday.

Simon Colburn, from City of Lincoln Council says it's important to back local traders and the market has "lots of old favourites".

Boston United has been given the green light to stage matches at the club's brand new Jakemans Community Stadium.

The club's new multi-million pound facilities have been given the seal of approval by Boston Borough Council and the National League.

It means United's next home fixture will be played at the new stadium – but behind closed doors due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Almost £1m of government cash has been awarded to City of Lincoln Council to help house rough sleepers.

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Wire

The money will be used to provide extra accommodation and support for homeless people in the city.

The council's assistant director of housing, Yvonne Fox, says the cash boost will help with the authority's ongoing work to help the city's rough sleepers.

A medieval game which has become a traditional event in North Lincolnshire has been cancelled for the first time in more than 100 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

The annual Haxey Hood game dates back to the 14th Century and involves crowds of people pushing a leather tube to one of four North Lincolnshire pubs.

Organisers said the pandemic meant January's event had been cancelled.

Haxey Hood enthusiast Luke Coggon said: "The game is a bigger deal than Christmas for a lot of people."

Image source, Getty Images

The game, held annually on the Twelfth Day of Christmas, sees the hood, a leather tube about one metre in length, being pushed in a scrum until it reaches one of four pubs.

The tradition started in the 14th Century when Lady de Mowbray was out riding between Westwoodside and Haxey - between Gainsborough, Scunthorpe and Doncaster - when her silk riding hood was blown away by the wind.

She is said to have been so amused to see local farm workers chasing it she rewarded them land - on condition the chase would be re-enacted every year.

East Lindsey is currently the third highest area for coronavirus infection rates in the country, according to the latest figures.

Image source, Google

The district had 515.8 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in the week to 18 November,

The statistics come as the Prime Minister is expected to outline how a "tier" system will replace the current national lockdown in England which is due to end on 2 December.

There are fears that East Lindsey's high infection rate will mean the county is put in a higher tier.

The weather across the county should remain fair today, with only a very small chance of rain.

The temperature won't improve much today, so it's a coat day!

You can find out your latest forecast for today and beyond here.